FERC-549C, Standards for Business Practices of Interstate Natural Gas Pipelines (Final Rule in Docket No. RM96-1-043)

Forms and Documents

Document Name	Status
Item G-1 NAESB WGQ Standards V 4.0.docx Supplementary Document	2025-01-17
FERC-549C (RM96-1-043) Final Rule supporting statement.docx Supporting Statement A	2025-01-17
NAESB WGQ Version 4.0 Report.pdf Supplementary Document	2025-01-17
Final Rule for RM96-1-043 (Issued) 11.22.2024.docx Supplementary Document	2025-01-17
RM96-1-043 Final Rule.pdf Supplementary Document	2025-01-07
43 USC 1331.pdf Supplementary Document	2021-04-15
42 USC 7101-7352.pdf Supplementary Document	2021-04-15
18 CFR 284.pdf Supplementary Document	2021-04-15
15 USC 3301-3432.pdf Supplementary Document	2021-04-15
15 USC 717-717z.pdf Supplementary Document	2021-04-15

IC Document Collections

IC ID	Document Title	Status
266094	RM96-1-043 one-time proposed IC activity	Removed
246843	RM96-1-043 Final Rule (Standards for Business Practices of Interstate Natural Gas Pipelines) One-time burden averaged Years 1-3 Instruction	Modified
23211	Standards for Business Practices of Interstate Natural Gas Pipelines	Unchanged

ICR Details

OMB Control No: 1902-0174	ICR Reference No: 202410-1902-008
Status: Received in OIRA	Previous ICR Reference No: 202403-1902-014
Agency/Subagency: FERC	Agency Tracking No: FERC-549C
Title: FERC-549C, Standards for Business Practices of Interstate Natural Gas Pipelines (Final Rule in Docket No. RM96-1-043)
Type of Information Collection: Revision of a currently approved collection	Common Form ICR:  No
Type of Review Request: Regular	Date Submitted to OIRA: 01/17/2025

	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	36 Months From Approved	01/31/2027
Responses	554	549
Time Burden (Hours)	53,473	52,973
Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0

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Abstract: The Final rule in RM96-1-043 would revise FERC-549C by amending 18 CFR 284.12 to incorporate by reference, with certain enumerated exceptions, Version 4.0 of Standards for Business Practices of Interstate Natural Gas Pipelines adopted by the Wholesale Gas Quadrant of the North American Energy Standards Board. The Final Rule revises the information collection activities in FERC-549C by: • Adding a new data element, “Cycle Indicator,” to the data set for the Storage Information standard to address technical details for the reporting of storage balances and the activities that affect storage balances; • Revising the data element “Service Requester Contract” contained in the data set for the Flowing Gas Related Allocation standard to identify the applicable contract and to support the communication of the results of processes used to allocate the actual flow of gas quantities to parties involved in a transaction; and • Adding a new sender’s option data element, “Location Indicator Data,” to the Transactional Reporting – Capacity Release standard to improve efficiencies by providing a mechanism for a transportation service provider to communicate the locations at which a discounted rate is offered as well as if the rate is associated with a single location, multiple locations, or all locations. Failure to collect the FERC-549C data would prevent the Commission from monitoring and properly evaluating pipeline transactions and/or meeting statutory obligations under both the NGA and NGPA. The implementation of these standards and regulations has promoted the additional efficiency and reliability of the natural gas industries’ operations thereby helping the Commission to carry out its responsibilities under the NGA. In addition, the Commission’s Office of Enforcement will use the data for general industry oversight. These requirements conform to our plan for efficient information collection, communication, and management within the natural gas pipeline industries.

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Authorizing Statute(s): US Code: 15 USC 717-717z Name of Law: Natural Gas Act
   US Code: 15 USC 3301-3432 Name of Law: Natural Gas Policy Act
  

Citations for New Statutory Requirements: None

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Associated Rulemaking Information
RIN:	Stage of Rulemaking:	Federal Register Citation:	Date:
1902-AG18	Final or interim final rulemaking	89 FR 97518	12/09/2024

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Federal Register Notices & Comments

Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR? No

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Number of Information Collection (IC) in this ICR: 2

IC Title	Form No.	Form Name
RM96-1-043 Final Rule (Standards for Business Practices of Interstate Natural Gas Pipelines) One-time burden averaged Years 1-3
RM96-1-043 one-time proposed IC activity
Standards for Business Practices of Interstate Natural Gas Pipelines

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ICR Summary of Burden

	Total Request	Previously Approved	Change Due to New Statute	Change Due to Agency Discretion	Change Due to Adjustment in Estimate	Change Due to Potential Violation of the PRA
Annual Number of Responses	554	549	0	5	0	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	53,473	52,973	0	500	0	0
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	0	0	0	0

Burden increases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: Yes

Burden Increase Due to: Changing Regulations

Burden decreases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: No

Burden Reduction Due to:

Short Statement: The burden estimates associated with the proposed rule in Docket No. RM96-1-043 are program changes for FERC-549C. In the following table, the requested burdens include those in Version 4.0 in Docket No. RM96-1-043. The previous burdens are those approved as a result of the final rule approving Version 3.2.

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Annual Cost to Federal Government: $60,343

Does this IC contain surveys, censuses, or employ statistical methods? No

Does this ICR request any personally identifiable information (see OMB Circular No. A-130 for an explanation of this term)? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.     No

Does this ICR include a form that requires a Privacy Act Statement (see 5 U.S.C. §552a(e)(3))? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.     No

Is this ICR related to the Affordable Care Act [Pub. L. 111-148 & 111-152]? No

Is this ICR related to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, [Pub. L. 111-203]? No

Is this ICR related to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA)? No

Is this ICR related to the Pandemic Response? No

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Common Form ICR:  No

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On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that the collection of information encompassed by this request complies with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).

The following is a summary of the topics, regarding the proposed collection of information, that the certification covers:

(a) It is necessary for the proper performance of agency functions;

(b) It avoids unnecessary duplication;

(c) It reduces burden on small entities;

(d) It uses plain, coherent, and unambiguous language that is understandable to respondents;

(e) Its implementation will be consistent and compatible with current reporting and recordkeeping practices;

(f) It indicates the retention periods for recordkeeping requirements;

(g) It informs respondents of the information called for under 5 CFR 1320.8 (b)(3) about:

(i) Why the information is being collected;

(ii) Use of information;

(iii) Burden estimate;

(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a benefit, or mandatory);

(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and

(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control number;

(h) It was developed by an office that has planned and allocated resources for the efficient and effective management and use of the information to be collected.

(i) It uses effective and efficient statistical survey methodology (if applicable); and

(j) It makes appropriate use of information technology.

If you are unable to certify compliance with any of these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.

Certification Date: 01/17/2025

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